Your Shodoshima adventure begins before you reach the island. Board the ferry at Takamatsu Port, find a spot with a view, and watch the islands of the Seto Inland Sea drift past. For about an hour, there is nothing to do but enjoy the crossing and look forward to the day ahead. In the evening, the ferry brings you back to Takamatsu with a new collection of stories to take home.
The Setouchi Islands have captured attention far beyond Japan. The New York Times ranked them seventh on its list of “52 Places to Go in 2019.” From the ferry, with islands scattered across the calm water, it is easy to see why this part of Japan stays with travelers.
Once on Shodoshima, trade the ferry for an electric-assist bike. As the weather grows cooler, cycling becomes a wonderful way to experience the island: feel the sea breeze, follow the roads through small communities, and take in the details you might miss from a car.
From the sea to the rice terraces
One of the day’s highlights is Angel Road, a narrow path that emerges from the sea at low tide. Its changing appearance is a beautiful reminder that life on an island follows the rhythm of nature.
The route also leads inland, where rice terraces and a traditional rural kabuki stage reveal another side of Shodoshima. These places tell stories of the people who have farmed the land and kept local traditions alive. Traveling between them by bike lets you enjoy the landscape as part of the experience, rather than simply moving from one stop to the next.
Taste a Shodoshima specialty
At lunchtime, sit down to one of the island’s best-loved foods: hand-stretched somen noodles. Somen making has been part of Shodoshima for more than 400 years, and the local method is known for using sesame oil during production. On this tour, you can choose your preferred dish at a somen specialty restaurant.
There are more treats along the way, including sweets from a long-established confectionery shop and gelato. These breaks give you time to pause, enjoy the island’s flavors, and get ready for the next stretch of the ride.
Step inside Shodoshima’s soy sauce tradition
In the afternoon, cycle through Hishio no Sato, an area closely associated with Shodoshima’s soy sauce makers. At Shokin Soy Sauce, visit a brewery where soy sauce is made using traditional wooden barrels.
After tasting the island’s food, seeing where one of its defining flavors is made adds another layer to the journey. The brewery visit includes a miniature bottle of soy sauce to take home. Toward the end of the day, the tour also stops at Morikuni Brewery, where those who wish can visit the café for amazake or another drink at their own expense.
Discover the island’s artistic side
Shodoshima is also one of the settings for the Setouchi Triennale, a contemporary art festival held every three years. Art remains part of the island’s landscape between festivals, although opening dates vary by work.
At Tonosho Port, for example, the outdoor artwork Gift of the Sun welcomes visitors with a form inspired by olive leaves. If you would like to explore Shodoshima’s art as well, check the current viewing information and consider allowing extra time before or after the cycling tour. Art viewing is not a scheduled stop on this tour.
Make the journey part of the memory
A ferry crossing from Takamatsu. A day spent cycling between the sea and the hills. Somen for lunch, a visit to a soy sauce brewery, and a final view of the Seto Inland Sea on the way home.
Our Shodoshima Full-Day E-Bike Tour brings these moments together in one private journey with an English-speaking guide. If you are looking for a way to experience more than Shodoshima’s famous sights, come discover the island at the pace of a bike ride.
Shodoshima Full-Day E-Bike Tour: Angel Road & Rice Terraces
Approximately 9 hours 40 minutes · Starts and ends in Takamatsu · Private tour · English-speaking guide
Round-trip ferry fares between Takamatsu and Shodoshima are not included in the tour price. The appearance of Angel Road depends on the tide. Art viewing is not included in the scheduled itinerary, and access to artworks varies.